Chapter 20

### Chapter 20: How to Steal a Wizard's Woman (1-4)

"Magic circle... How did you do it?"

"..."

I silently looked at Luna.

The sunset beautifully illuminated her small face framed by her long silver hair.

She tilted her head slightly and asked again.

"Magic circle... How did you do it?"

In response to her question, I gave her a similar expression and replied.

"That... "

"?"

"Do you really need to know?"

"..."

Luna's eyebrows twitched slightly at my words, and she closed her eyes.

For the first time, I saw a crack in her expression.

I rejoiced internally.

'Ha... I got you good~'

[Fortunately, it seems you remember Sir Guardian.]

'Ha, that's a relief.'

The girl who ignored my outstretched hand when we first met.

A girl who looked like a doll without emotions.

A girl with a moderate level of talent and passion.

And such a girl wants something from me?

There's no one more suitable for NTL.

I felt a surge of desire to break that expression and fill her with sexual talent.

Luna was a girl I really wanted to ruin.

After closing her eyes and remaining silent, Luna opened them and spoke to me.

"...If I offended you earlier, I'm sorry."

"What do you mean?"

"..."

I pretended not to understand.

Luna and I engaged in a silent battle of wills.

The winner?

"...I won't tell anyone about the magic circle. I'll come back tomorrow."

Luna said this and turned to leave.

Her elegant gait, even with her cloak, was not hidden.

I cheered as I watched Luna's retreating figure disappear from the terrace.

"I won!"

[While I don't know what you won, congratulations. However, be careful as someone else might have seen it.]

"Well, what can they do if I deny it?"

If I get caught, I'll just be forcibly returned to the ship.

The problem is if it affects my mission...

But I felt things were starting off well.

I thought the conversation would be difficult, but Luna came to me and initiated it.

Just like with Viola, I seem to have good luck.

"This is great. I should try to build some rapport with her."

[Fortunately, according to the information I have, she won't tell anyone else.]

"Plus, she seems more ambitious than I thought..."

-[Desire for Growth]-

From Luna's perspective, my ability must be beyond imagination.

Wizards spend a tremendous amount of time drawing magic circles.

Sometimes, it takes an hour to carefully create one.

To form a magic circle just by thinking about it.

She must be hoping I don't get caught by others.

At least not before she learns it herself.

"Kekeke. Since I was completely ignored, I'll ignore her back as revenge."

[...]

I smiled contentedly and returned to the dormitory.

***

"Mr. Guardian."

"Yes?"

The next day, as soon as the magic circle class ended, Louis approached me.

The guy who had been surrounded by girls since the first day suddenly came to me.

"Do you have any plans to join a club?"

"Club?"

Like any school, the magic school had a club system where students could gather.

You could join multiple clubs, and there were quite a few that weren't related to magic.

But...

'Troublesome... Why would I join such a thing?'

[However, since this is a long-term mission, it might be necessary to be more sociable.]

'That's true... But I'll see how it goes later.'

What's important to me isn't school life.

It's how to corrupt Luna.

Joining a club would be a waste of time when I could be resting and planning.

"Sorry, but I'm not interested in joining a club yet..."

"The most popular club right now is the Magic Circle Research Club. It's very popular."

"Still, I'm not... "

"The seniors are very kind and give a lot of advice that can help with your grades, so come with me."

"No... "

"The friends over there are also going to join."

Louis seemed to have no intention of listening to me.

What's wrong with this guy?

'No, this guy keeps interrupting me... '

[Is he good at talking, or just stubborn?]

'He's just annoying. Ah, I'm so frustrated.'

He was just a guy until yesterday, but today he's a troublesome guy.

Before I could refuse, students started gathering around me.

Most of them were girls.

They also tried to persuade me to join the club.

"From what I saw yesterday, you're good at drawing magic circles. Come with us."

"Besides, it's not hard to leave a club if you join."

"Still, there's no guarantee you can join just because you want to."

The girls were pressuring me to join while giving a rough explanation of the club.

They didn't look particularly eager for me to join.

They looked more annoyed...

'Why are they doing this?'

[It's best to join. It's not hard to leave, and refusing now might not have a good impact.]

'Shit!'

Louis slipped away from the girls and went to sit next to Luna.

"Luna, let's join together."

"..."

Louis, after leaving the girls to me, was now trying to persuade Luna.

The girls started whispering to each other when they saw Louis and Luna talking.

(Why him... )

(Well, they've known each other since they were young... )

(Ah, why didn't I have a friend like Louis when I was young? So frustrating.)

...Speak a bit more quietly.

They were whispering with obvious hostility, trying to keep it a secret.

Louis, seemingly unaware of the girls' whispers, continued talking to Luna.

But then the target became me again.

(Why is he trying to take this guy? )

(Well, he's good at drawing magic circles, so that's probably why. )

(If this guy doesn't go, he won't go, right? )

(What's his name again? )

(I don't know.)

Speak a bit more quietly...

The two next to me were whispering openly.

'No, these crazy women are doing this right in front of me.'

[It seems Louis is interested in you, Mr. Guardian.]

'Could he have found out about my ability to create magic circles with my mind?'

[That's unlikely. Louis was in the front row, and to look at you, he would have had to turn around noticeably, which would have resulted in a penalty.]

'Yeah, that was when everyone heard a noise...'

After the professor threatened to penalize anyone caught looking at someone else's magic circle, no one would have dared to turn around noticeably.

I concluded it was just because I was good at drawing magic circles.

I looked at Louis and then shifted my gaze to Luna.

She was glancing at me subtly.

After a few seconds, she answered.

"...Okay. I'll join too."

I said through the communication.

'Armonia.'

[Yes.]

'Let's join the club.'

[...]

With Luna's decision to join, I also decided to join the Magic Circle Research Club.

***

It turned out that you couldn't just join a club by saying you wanted to.

For small clubs, there were often no special conditions, but for large clubs, it was different.

Large clubs had many students wanting to join, so they had to select members.

The selection criteria could be national connections or entrance exam scores.

There was a club fair for new students.

Luna, Louis, and the girls attended the fair in the auditorium.

A blonde woman was on the stage, starting the explanation.

She introduced herself as the president of the Strata Magic School Student Council.

Her short, neat hair and golden eyes exuded a golden glow.

Her clear smile and confident explanation radiated the authority of a student council president.

'Wow, she's pretty.'

[Would you like to see her profile?]

'No, I'm only focused on Luna now.'

[That's a wise decision.]

According to the student council president, club applications would be accepted in about a week.

Since the new students had only been here for a short time and were only taking the magic circle class, they were advised to spend the remaining time exploring the clubs.

After the fair ended, we left the auditorium.

Since club applications wouldn't be accepted for another week, I decided to leave.

I tried to slip away carefully to avoid the guy.

Swoosh, stealth!

"A, Mr. Guardian. Let's have lunch together."

"..."

My quick stealth was immediately detected.

Shit...

'No, why is this crazy guy doing this to me... Armonia.'

[Yes.]

'Show me this guy's profile.'

[That's impossible.]

'...What?'

Disobedience?!

Ah... He's higher in rank than me.

Do I need to bow to him?

According to Armonia, the profiles of the main characters managed by the Zodiac or the Church cannot be viewed or modified.

I didn't know the previous hero because we never met. (We almost met, but it was a one-second difference.)

This is what the separation of powers means...

The girls started giggling at Louis's suggestion.

"Of course, Louis... You really take care of people. You're so kind..."

"Plus, as the top student, you're also good at leading the bottom students. You're amazing."

Bottom or bottom...

The girls were busy praising Louis.

But Louis's response was even more outrageous.

"Mr. Guardian is currently at the bottom, but the joy of climbing up is something I envy."

"Well, Louis has nowhere to go up... You're really amazing."

"Right, right."

But the atmosphere felt...

'Is this guy making fun of me?'

[...I also felt that way.]

Whether it's innate or intentional, it's still annoying.

Luna, standing behind Louis and the girls, was looking at me coldly.

Her gaze didn't leave me.

Then Louis, as if remembering something, turned around, stood next to Luna, and said to me.

"Oh, right... I'm sorry. Luna can't eat with people she doesn't know... Mr. Guardian, can you escort the ladies here?"

"..."

He said something ridiculous.

It sounded like he was trying to get me to fight a monster while he stole the treasure chest.

'Ah... I'm getting annoyed.'

[I understand, but you need to be patient.]

'Ha... I'm only doing this because I want to. Got it?'

[...Understood.]

Ha, I really need to vent my frustration somehow.

Actually, I'm only doing this because I want to with Armonia.

The other girls, hearing Louis's suggestion, were disappointed but couldn't refuse.

"A..."

"If Louis says so..."

They were glaring at Luna with disappointment.

Louis, oblivious to their glares, thought this situation might be more convenient.

The girls would naturally leave when they saw Louis.

Louis led Luna to the cafeteria.

But Luna just stood there, looking at me.

"Luna, let's go."

"..."

"Luna?"

"...Let's go together."

Luna said, looking at me.

"Huh? Is that okay? You can't eat with people you don't know."

"It's fine. I met you yesterday."

"Th... That's true..."

Louis looked at me with a dubious expression. For the first time, I saw his expression change.

Luna looked at me again and urged me.

"Let's go together."

A faint smile could be seen on her face.

I smiled brightly at Luna's invitation.

And I replied.

"No, I don't want to."